Age
45-54
Gender
Male
Skill
Advanced
Plays
Once a week

Review Statistics

Average Rating

3.8
3.8
Total 9 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

9 Reviews
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
6
Not Recommended Courses
3
Helpful Votes Count
44
Not Helpful Votes Count
2
First Review
05/22/2018
Last Review
06/11/2023

Reviews Map

Reviews

3.8
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First time playing this course
Recommended
Review has
3.0
Previously Played

Turf just doesn’t flourish here

I have been playing this course a few times per year for 20+ years. There seems to be a fundamental issue here getting the grass to grow in. This is now two major renovations that have yielded very sparse turf grass. The rough has always been thin and spotty. After the recent renovation even the fairways are really thin. There are some collection areas adjacent to a few greens with really nice grass, so maybe it’s just not standing up to the cart traffic

The tee boxes as other reviewers have pointed out are embarrassing. The condition of the fairways does result in some tremendous role, which makes some of the very long park fours here more reachable.. Greens are the savior at Heritage Oaks. The greens are by far the most interesting feature of the course requiring strategy and precision. The greens are also in respectable shape.

The chipping, putting area and clubhouse are definitely the highlight of Heritage Oaks, so allow for some extra time to enjoy them.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/06/2023

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, Joeavery. We are going to pass on your feedback to the team. Thanks for visiting Heritage Oaks Golf Club - Classic 18, and we hope to see you again in the future.

The Bandit Golf Club

Played On 12/29/2021
3.0
First Time Playing

SLOW!

I’m usually reluctant to criticize pace of play in course reviews because the course is not entirely to blame in many cases. That being said, I would never return to The Bandit given how they manage this place. The course is very penal, with many hazards and tons of OB, so the 8 minute tee time intervals are very misguided. On top of that there were a pair of back to back fivesomes on the course. I’ve been golfing over thirty years and have never observed fivesomes inserted repeatedly with a full tee sheet. It’s just greedy and bad business. There was not a Marshall roaming course, so three groups routinely were stacked up at each tee box.

Wouldn’t be so unfortunate if not for the fact that the holes that we got to see were fantastic. I love Keith Foster golf courses and how he maximizes the value of every creek, ridge, and stand of trees in all of his designs. Conditioning was also very strong given the extraordinary amount of cart traffic it appears to endure (not reasonable to walk here).

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

New name same layout

Same solid course. Same great staff. Same challenging par 3’s.

Unlike the total makeovers at places like Sunset Valley, Mistwood and Mt Prospect, the renovation here is not apparent once you reach with the first fairway.

The clubhouse and short game practice areas are tremendous and extraordinarily spacious.. We loved the practice pitching and bunker complex. Turf is still thin, but top notch design given the constraints of the property. They even have a nice veranda overlooking 18 with the Adirondack chairs. Nice touch.

Don’t go out here curious to see a new and improved design. Seems the greens were rebuilt, but no meaningful changes to the strategic nature or contours to speak of. Fairways were reseeded and were in wonderful condition. Grass on the greens and ESPECIALLY the tees was really in rough shape. The bunkers were hit or miss and they definitely were not all rebuilt. Aside from the fairways the course looks really beat up and is obviously getting tons of play. Once the novelty of the reopening wears off not sure who will pay the premium for these conditions. You could even see plastic edging around the greens poking up through soil on half the greens and a massive 40’ wide puddle near 12th tee…..just seems like some things weren’t executed quite right.

Biggest misses to me:
They added shorter tees, but I think they should have attempted to lengthen it to reduce the instinct everyone has to look at the 6,300 yards on the card and go to the back tee. Too many players step to the back tee; so that tee box is usually in the worst shape. The course is so soft and at a par of 70 it plays way longer than the scorecard yardage.

Another miss to me was the fact that they didn’t extend the par to 71 or 72. I was hoping they would cut 50 yards off the 17th creating a risk/reward par 5. This would have enabled an extension of 18 to an additional par 5.

Last thing that disappointed was the lack of a grass range area. Not sure if space is lacking, but seems tragic to have such beautiful amenities, learning academy,, netting, lighting, etc. only to offer mats comparable to a Cook County range.

Clubhouse food was strong and the place was buzzing with activity. Clearly the community is embracing the restaurant/bar concept that was well executed. They also have a nicer pro shop, meeting rooms and a massive space housing two simulators….reminds me a lot of the high end vibe you get from Pinstripes.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good

Randall Oaks Golf Club

Played On 07/07/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Pleasant in every respect

Randall Oaks is doing it right. No pretense, no formal bag drop, no nationally acclaimed celebrity architect, etc. The course is completely booked from sunrise to sunset and somehow the conditions remain tremendous by public course standards. I am not sure how they do it, but I am impressed each time I visit. I don't know much about Dundee, but certainly wouldn't assume that they have such a first class golf operation. The practice facility is second to none,; traditional range + learning center complex. They also have a three hole par 3 course. The grille has a beautiful deck view overlooking a pond/9th green and runs all sorts of events and dinner specials. The community really seems to support this place in a special way..

The design is fair; there are a few very demanding tee shots, but definitely some holes where you can relax a bit and make some good scores. There is a nice mix of risk-reward on both the 4's and 5's. You will probably hit a different iron on each par 3 and the 4's/5's have a really fun mix of yardages. There are plenty of ponds and bunkers that keep you honest, but the rough is not penal, so there is a nice balance. Also has a good variety of links-style open holes and wooded holes. The property features an east-to-west ridge that creates a bit of elevation and some nice vistas.

Nobody talks about this place, there are no recent reviews on this site, but clearly they have a recipe for success judging by the lack of available tee times. 15 years ago I went far NW to play GCOI, Whisper Creek, or Red Tail, but now I would recommend Randall Oaks above all three.

Randall Oaks reminds me a bit of Schaumburg Golf, but with better terrain and a bit more space.......fair course that has the financial support of the municipality and a fiercely loyal customer base.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Mt Prospect Golf Club

Played On 06/15/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

A unique challenge

I would definitely give this course a try because it certainly is unique (specifically the green complexes), especially for an affordable public course. There are some classically elegant features and many memorable holes. The design however is just curiously executed (or poorly executed depending on who you ask).
I completely understand the need trick up the course to counter for the lack of land needed to lengthen the course. The course stretches to just 6,300 yards from the back tee/par 70 (most golfers default to the 6,300 yard tee). However, the strategic nature of the greens is often lost due to the wacky distances from which you are approaching the greens.
The par three 4th hole is a reverse Redan that plays 220 yards. That is an absurd distance for a Redan. So rather than trying to use the contours or determine a good line that could provide a reasonable putt you are just blasting a wood up there and trying to get up & down.
The same problem exists at the par three 16th hole. It features a beautiful Biarritz green. But again, the hole plays 225 yards and is the tightest par 3 on the course. There is a huge tree line along both sides and a cart path and fence ~6 paces right of an very narrow green. Typically this kind of green is used in a more open links type setting, not on a very narrow hazard rich chute. (The par three 7th is well designed with a wider green at a more reasonable distance, and is much more fun to play.)
There are two par 4’s on the front that play 460+….again, very strange distances. So obviously there are some short holes out there that pay you back where you MUST score. 3, 9 & 18 are examples of short holes where the devilishly wicked green complexes make a good score well earned. Another really fun green is the 435 yard par four 11th, but the hole seems to play a bit uphill into the prevailing winds, so golfers are often laying up on this hole rather than rolling balls into the punchbowl style green….again, not really getting to interact with the contours.
The redesign largely defaulted to the original routing. I wish they would have thought outside the box more and done a more imaginative rerouting. There is not a forced layup anywhere on the course There are however two creeks that run through the property that could have been used to force some layups which would have essentially lengthened the course. That creek could also have been used to front a couple of greens (creek tends to be 40+ yards from any putting surface). This would have been an alternate way to make the course challenging without making all of the green sloping so severe. Picture moving the green on #3 just across the creek setting up a fun little approach over a hazard. I also think there are places where the use of a double green could have worked to extend distances. If the course could stretch to 6,600 that would push the par up and spread people onto alternate tee boxes. 11 and 17 for example could share a double green; converting the 11th to a par 5 and extending the course distance.
Typically the course is in great shape, but the amount of play is starting to show as tee boxes are butchered on some of the shorter holes and the ball marks on the greens are quite severe. I cannot imagine a more walker friendly course, so the turf doesn’t get as trampled as some of the higher end courses by cart traffic. When they have issues with the turf they generally address it quickly, which is nice to see. The rough and bunkers were in very good shape as were the fairways (aside from some popular layup spots on par 5’s, etc.)
It's definitely a tough and memorable little course which yields all of the passion articulated in the course reviews. Give it a try. Do yourself a favor and walk it; you won’t regret it.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/12/2021

Thanks so much for your review, as well as your honest feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, as it is really helpful for future golfers. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Coyote Creek Golf Club

Played On 05/27/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

A very unique layout

Played while passing through Peoria. The layout was strange....a whopping 12 par 4’s including playing four of them in a row twice. The 3’s and 5’s are all sandwiched together. There was rain the day before and the course was extremely wet/soft.....plays way longer than the scorecard due to all he soft and low lying areas utilized along the creek. For a championship caliber course there are literally 5 drivable par 4’s if conditions are optimal....tons of easy pars on this course. Strangely the short 4’s also tend to be the more open holes. The holes with the most hazards and precision required are all in the ~430 range!!! #’s 2/10/16 are nearly impossible to reach given the wet conditions. A truly perplexing layout. These par 4’s would all be wonderful risk/reward par 5’s if they were to add 40 yards! I would love for them convert to an additional par five and add another par 3.

Conditions were pretty good. Unfortunately it’s not reasonable to walk this course, so it takes a beating from all the riding carts. Bunkers were in very nice shape considering the rain. Very heavy and deep filling of sand, so more penal than most. I would say it’s in better shape than nearby Weaver Ridge, especially the bunkers.

I would definitely give the course a try. You must score well on the pushover holes because there are 3 holes where par is nearly impossible.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Whisper Creek Golf Club

Played On 08/20/2020
3.0
Previously Played

Quite a fall from grace

I’ve been playing out here once every year or so for about 20 years. It was one of the last courses built during the Chicago course boom. Back in the day they gave golfers a little welcome bag with sunscreen, tees, divot tool, etc. Whisper Creek was probably one of the five most expensive courses in the area at that time. There are 12 perfectly pleasant but very forgettable and unimaginative holes at this course....not the kind of design that justified $80.

They have pivoted dramatically to a value oriented business model which probably makes sense. There are 2-3 great holes and 2-3 ridiculous holes that are universally despised. I think those holes leave a bad taste in the mouths of some reviewers. The conditions aside from two fairways (strange pot holes have emerged on 2 fairways) were good. Greens and tees were quite nice. Many of the bunkers are 100% unplayable....those reviews are dead on. I mean rocks the size of baseballs in numerous bunkers. It wouldn’t be possible to hit from the greenside bunkers on 18 without severely damaging your club. I’ve seen dirt in many Billy Casper bunkers, but this was the first course that featured bunkers that looked like stone quarries. Quite a shame when you look back at those vintage photos of the course featured on the golf advisor site.

It’s worth the drive given the deals they run. If you can manage to par more than one of the par fives consider at a success.! Just don’t expect it to resemble any of the online photos .

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good

Coyote Creek Golf Course

Played On 07/22/2020
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Very unique layout

Played while passing through Peoria. The layout was strange....a whopping 12 par 4’s including playing four of them in a row twice. The 3’s and 5’s are all sandwiched together. There was rain the day before and the course was extremely wet/soft.....plays way longer than the scorecard due to all he soft and low lying areas utilized along the creek. For a championship caliber course there are literally 5 drivable par 4’s if conditions are optimal....tons of easy pars on this course. Strangely the short 4’s also tend to be the more open holes. The holes with the most hazards and precision required are all in the ~430 range!!! #’s 2/10/16 are nearly impossible to reach given the wet conditions. A truly perplexing layout. These par 4’s would all be wonderful risk/reward par 5’s if they were to add 40 yards! I would love for them convert to an additional par five and add another par 3.

Conditions were pretty good. Unfortunately it’s not reasonable to walk this course, so it takes a beating from all the riding carts. Bunkers were in very nice shape considering the rain. Very heavy and deep filling of sand, so more penal than most. I would say it’s in better shape than nearby Weaver Ridge, especially the bunkers.

I would definitely give the course a try. You must score well on the pushover holes because there are 3 holes where par is nearly impossible.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good

OGA Golf Course

Played On 05/22/2018
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Wonderful place

I played while visiting from out of town. I wish there were more places like this. While the land and contours of the property are stunning and the course is in amazing shape and the practice areas are well appointed the place does not possess any of the arrogance associated with many upscale facilities. It’s just kind of pure golf.

The maintenance was amazing for the price. Details like edging cut around sprinkler heads and bunkers was immaculate. The course itself is not particularly long and somewhat easy given how well cared for it is.

Extremely easy to walk and I saw the highest percentage of walkers here as I have seen in 15 years. Might explain why the turf is in such good shape. You should be embarrassed to take a cart at a place like this.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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